As the Round of 8 wraps up with no playoff driver tasting victory so far, all eyes turn to Martinsville Speedway for Saturday’s 250-lap thriller — the race that will officially lock in the Xfinity Series Championship 4.
History has a funny way of repeating itself in this series. Six of the last 12 Xfinity playoff races have been stolen by non-playoff drivers, and if that trend rolls on at Martinsville, it would mark the first time since 2016 that the entire Round of 8 goes winless for title contenders.
Still, JR Motorsports teammates Connor Zilisch and Justin Allgaier have done their homework, clinching Championship 4 spots on points alone. The first two races of this playoff round saw surprise winners in Aric Almirola at Las Vegas and Austin Hill at Talladega — proof that even in the high-stakes heat of playoff season, the outsiders can still crash the party.
Here is everything you need to know about the Martinsville playoff race, including the start time for the race.
What channel is NASCAR on today?
- TV Channel: NBC | TSN, RDS (Canada)
- Live stream: Fubo | TSN+ (Canada)
The Talladega playoff race is available for live TV broadcast on NBC in the United States. Streaming options are available on Fubo for fans in the US.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
What time does the NASCAR race start today?
- Track: Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia
- Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025
- Time: 2:00 p.m. ET or 11:00 a.m. PT
- Length: 500 laps (263 miles) on the 0.526-mile oval
- Purse: $9,797,935
The Martinsville playoff race is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. ET or 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, October 26.
The race will be held at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Stage 1 ends at Lap 130. Stage 2 ends at Lap 260. Stage 3 ends at Lap 500.
NASCAR radio station for Martinsville playoff race
- Radio channel: SiriusXM channel 90
Listen to the 2025 Martinsville playoff race and every race of the NASCAR season on SiriusXM.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
Xfinity 500 starting lineup 2025
| Starting pos. | Driver | Car No. | Team |
| 1. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 2. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 3. | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 4. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 5. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske Ford |
| 6. | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 7. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 8. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 9. | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske Ford |
| 10. | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 11. | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford |
| 12. | Josh Berry | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing Ford |
| 13. | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske Ford |
| 14. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 15. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
| 16. | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
| 17. | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
| 18. | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 19. | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 20. | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota |
| 21. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota |
| 22. | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet |
| 23. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford |
| 24. | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 25. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 26. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet |
| 27. | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 28. | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 29. | Cole Custer | 41 | Haas Factory Team Ford |
| 30. | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports Ford |
| 31. | Justin Haley | 7 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 32. | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing Ford |
| 33. | Riley Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing Toyota |
| 34. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet |
| 35. | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet |
| 36. | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing Ford |
NASCAR point standings 2025
Below are the updated standings ahead of NASCAR at Martinsville.
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Chase Briscoe | 4116 |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 4107 |
| 3 | Kyle Larson | 4106 |
| 4 | Denny Hamlin | 4103 |
| 5 | William Byron | 4070 |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 4068 |
| 7 | Ryan Blaney | 4059 |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | 4044 |
| 9 | Tyler Reddick | 2270 |
| 10 | Bubba Wallace | 2236 |
NASCAR Cup Series playoff race schedule 2025
(All times Eastern)
| Date | Race | Track | Time | TV/Winner |
| Oct. 26 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway | 2 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |
| Nov. 2 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship | Phoenix Raceway | 3 p.m. | NBC, Fubo |